Is visual perception of hearing-impaired children different from healthy children?

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate visual perception of hearing-impaired children, and to determine their insufficiency in rehabilitation programs. Methods: Forty children with hearing impairment aged 8–10 years were evaluated, and were compared with age matched 40 healthy children. Children having 71 dB and over sensorineural auditory impairment in both ears were included in this study. Figure-ground perception, position in space, and design copying tests were used to evaluate the visual perception of the subjects (Ayres Southern California Sensorial Integration tests). Results: The mean hearing impairment level was 95.5±13.86 dB for the right ear, and 92.25±14.3 dB for the left. There were no significant differences by mean of age, height, and body weight between the groups ( P>0.05). All of the test scores of the control group were significantly higher than those of hearing-impaired children ( P<0.05). However there was no significant difference in the completion time of the design copying test between the groups ( P>0.05). Conclusions: Motivation insufficiency and learning difficulty may be developed in hearing-impaired children depending on the communication problems. The result of this study may bring light into literature about the development of new assessment techniques, and proper rehabilitation programmes for hearing-impaired children or adults in different age groups.